Dec 8, 2011

Google Search - How To

So you want to search via www.Google.com and come up with some nuggets?
The words you type into the Google search box can lead you everywhere.
However, if you are familar with what are called "Google Operators"
your search will be considerably more effective.

Example Number 1:
You want to search the web site of the Marathon Central School District
for the Board of Education Minutes.
Type in the following:
site:marathonschools.org Board minutes
The results will surprise you with 3 pages of links.
This is a search for specific information at a given web site.

Example Number 2:
To search the New York State Education Department web site
for Marathon.
Type in:
site:www.nysed.gov marathon
The result is about 11 pages of links.
If you would like to refine the search to the school only
site:www.nysed.gov marathon school
If you were to type in "marathon central school"
you would get less satisfactory results.

Example Number 3:
Let's assume you are interested in acquiring knowledge
about crow families.
Now we are looking for files pertaining to the
characteristic of crows
and their families.
Type in:
crow families
The results are quite interesting and range all over.
However, you are interested in finding some *.pdf files
describing crows and their families.
filetype:pdf crow bird intitle:family

DO NOT ASK GOOGLE QUESTIONS.
Never ask Google a question like:
"What is the airspeed velocity of swallows?"
It is better to look for pdf files because much research is published in the
form of the ubiquitous Acrobat Reader format of .pdf files.
filetype:pdf air speed intitle:velocity of *swallow
The asterisk is inserted to encourage Google
to insert qualifying words or phrases.

Example Number 4:
You are interested in learning everything that has been published
in connection with Congressional Representative Richard Hanna.
If you were to type in just the first and last name you would
receive results of
Hanna and Richard in all sorts of
combinations.
To limit the search as much as possible to Richard Hanna
type in
"Richard Hanna"
between quotation marks.
If you scan down to the bottom of the page you will notice
clickable suggestions for other searches relating to Richard Hanna.

Example Number 4:
You are interested in publications by an author.
Type in
author:"Karen Johnson-Weiner"
To narrow and limit searches to specific
information always use quotation marks "......" as operators.

Google Images Is Fun
After you have opened your browser to
click on the "images" tab shown in the upper left hand
of the page. This should open up to

If you were to type in
Marathon
you will be shown thumbnails of pictures from everywhere
and about anything. So let us narrow it down with
"Marathon NY"
This is as good as it can get even though you are shown
pictures of Marathon Runners in and around Manhattan.
You will notice different results if you insert a comma between the words.

You should wait for the page being loaded.
Then mouse over the thumbnails for a brief description.
Right click on the thumbnail and select to open it in new tab.

I will end this post with showing some pictures listed down the page.


The McEvoy Family exhibiting one of their dairy cows.

The Gerald Johnson Collection of
Snow Plow Equipment
at Clark's Corners.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT DO NOT EVER QUOTE WIKIPEDIA.
IT IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACADEMIC SIN.

George Vanderwoude